10 Technologies That Should Creep You Out

Tech Draws Up A Scare

Technology is constantly evolving -- much of the time for the better. Although it's not uncommon for some ideas to make some of us shudder, the following is a roundup of technologies in development, or being researched, that push the button on the creepiness factor. Some may make you laugh; others may cause you to turn away.

So in the spirit of the upcoming holiday, grab some candy and read on for what may be coming to the market whether we want it to or not.

Becoming One With Your Phone

A team of researchers from Hasso Plattner Institute, University of Potsdam and University of Toronto looked into mobile device implants a few years ago.

No, we're not talking subdermal phablet-sized phones under the skin. But researchers toyed with the idea of a small mobile device inserted into the arm of a cadaver to study the use of interfaces through skin and found success. Living program participants were then strapped with a prototype topped with artificial skin to simulate an implant.

This may not be coming to consumers any time soon, but it certainly brings new meaning to the term "wearables."

Brains Wanted

This sounds a bit like something out of a sci-fi flick.

Researchers at Stanford University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Case Western Reserve University and Providence VA Medical Center are looking for participants for the BrainGate 2 clinical study.

Scientists at BrainGate are developing a brain sensor implant that allows a user to control a computer.

It's aimed at patients who do not have use of their limbs.

Scared Of Heights?

Being confined in an airplane for hours can be hell for some -- especially if they're not so fond of the people sitting next to them. But imagine flying in a windowless plane. What's worse? It's hard to say.

The U.K.-based Centre for Process Innovation is exploring a new aircraft design in which the interior walls and seat backs of the plane become display screens that show passengers what's just outside of them.

Neat for some, although there's already talk that advertisers could clamor for space on those screens, which is yet another frightening thought.

If Looks Could Kill…

Artist Jordan Wolfson's animatronic dancer sculpture was on display earlier this year at the David Zwirner Gallery in New York.

Animatronics? Not necessarily scary. But what makes this one so creepy is the facial-recognition software that allows this "dancer" to lock eyes and follow someone around a room with her gaze.

It's not necessarily a come-hither stare, either, with the witchy mask and dirt marks covering this robot.

Crafty Ideas

Break out the drone that may be sitting in the garage for this Halloween D.I.Y. project posted on the YouTube channel of Alton Porter.

Porter's idea: Turn a drone into a flying ghost to drum up screams from the neighborhood kids.

Turns out Porter's pretty creative. He's also got an idea on YouTube for a remote-controlled spider.

Social Media For The Sick

Toronto-based Figure 1 makes a free app that lets health-care professionals post and share images of their patients to exchange ideas or have conversations about interesting cases -- never mind that it could be you with that weird rash or some other affectation in that photo they're ogling at.

Figure 1 says images remove all personally identifiable features, such as faces or tattoos and, therefore, doesn't infringe on HIPAA.

Still, there's something a little unsettling about images of people posted -- with or without their consent -- when they're maybe at their most vulnerable.

Constant Surveillance

And for the people who have trust issues in their relationships, developers have them covered with myriad apps out there to spy on friends or spouses.

Connect, released in the summer, lets users know where their social media connections are, using a handy map. So that friend who didn't bother to call or text that she was going to be in your area? No worries, Connect has you covered and will ping you that she's in town.

There's also Phone Tracker for parents wanting to track their kids, or employers looking to keep tabs on workers. Along the same lines is the TopSpyApp, geared toward parents and employers -- the app's name pretty much says it all.

Skin Deep

It may be fair warning that the maker of an implantable RFID chip is called Dangerous Things. Its tag line is "custom gadgetry for the discerning hacker."

The Seattle-based company makes implantable chips that can help perform tasks, such as unlocking doors or logging into a computer, with the wave of a hand once the chip is implanted.

Is there a market for it? Well Dangerous Things went to Indiegogo late last year to raise $8,000 and instead brought in $30,619.

The company sells a glass RFID tag and injection kit, called xEMi, for $57.

Smart Pills

Don't even think about skipping medicine or trying to get one past the doctor.

The team at Proteus Digital Health, which has offices in Redwood City, Calif., and London are working on pills that contain chips. So a patient takes their prescribed medication, which then sends off a code specific to that drug. Information about how effective a medication may be for a patient can then be sent over the Internet or email.

Dating Horror Stories

The latest in technological advancements for dating in this modern world is an app called Lulu.

The app promises girls the ability to do their "research" before going out with someone, and also lets them post reviews of their dates, take quizzes and get advice. What's in it for the guys? Well, they can check out how they stack up against others.

The reviews on the company's website are mixed and range from, "It's more than just a rating" to "This app is pretty stupid; it's confusing and doesn't really do anything."